thecomputersaysno Reviews

Around the Bend (2004)

Beautifully told story

[28 April 2005]

Extremely touching road movie around four generations of males whose relationships have become fractured in the past.

It's not made completely clear at the start, but Michael Caine is the great grandfather, Christopher Walken is the grandfather, Josh Lucas the father and the charming Jonah Bobo as the grandson. The family are reunited and Caine's character tasks them with a request in his will that his ashes be scattered near his favourite fast food restaurants throughout picturesque New Mexico (bizarre product placement).

Walken had disappeared from the family unit, with some resentment from all, and returns to the family and finds himself agreeing to fulfil his father's wishes. Throughout the journey, the family bonds are re-established and a gradual understanding of the characters grows and their past revealed.

This is a beautiful story, told at a gentle but entrancing pace, is truly moving and I recommend it highly. It's not very long, but within Walken is given great time and space to truly demonstrate his talents.

Dead Man's Shoes (2004)

More grit from Meadows

[6 March 2005]

Super drama from Meadows and writer Considine, who also plays the anti-hero Richard. Richard is an ex-army loner who returns to a small town in the Midlands to trace and confront some former peers whom he holds responsible for a tragedy that is revealed throughout the course of the story.

There's the typical level of detail that individuals get caught up in here that Meadows shows well, allowing you to get closer to the characters and making it smart that little bit more when the pressure is on them. This picture has many the touch of a Western about it (the lawlessness, lack of many peripheral characters, the isolation etc.) and transposes well to the rural locations of Derbyshire. It's not a long film and moves along at a tidy pace, but when the end does come it's a very final one and really makes you feel you've completed the journey with Richard. Solid, gritty stuff.

Ratcatcher (1999)

Tough Scottish drama

[24 December 2004]

Ratcatcher tells the story of a young boy, James, on a Glasgow estate, wracked with guilt over a friend's death and faced with a future that seems already mapped out for him.

Set against bin man strikes in the 1970's, with black rubbish bags strewn across the grim urban wasteland and rowdy bullies always around the corner, Ramsey's film creates a bleak vision of this era for a boy's upbringing. The film follows James and observes the relationship with his parents and peers and how he creates hope when there appears little.

The visions of hope can be seen throughout, but only, like James, if you take the effort to explore or look closely; the field, the bus driver, the medal, the teenage girl, the shoes, the glasses, the mouse etc. Ratcatcher contains some super images, my favourite being James upon the sofa (I won't spoil it, watch it and see).

If you're really into this type of bleakness, why not create a double bill with "Young Adam"? It may not appear the most cheery of films, but you can't help caring about James and sharing some hope.